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John Galliano Hasidic Jew Costume Claims Dismissed

JOHN GALLIANO's publicist, Liz Rosenberg, has defended her client against claims that he recently dressed up as a Hasidic Jew. The designer was photographed on Tuesday wearing a dress coat and a tall hat with his hair in long curled strands around his face, igniting allegations - first made in the New York Post - that he was sporting traditional Hasid clothing.

"Regarding his attire yesterday: As you well know, John has worn big hats and long coats for many, many years," Rosenberg told WWD. "He indeed has long curly hair, and I can understand people/the NY Post misinterpreting his look at the show. But I can assure you there was no intent to dress in a Hasidic style, to present himself as an homage to the Hasidic community or to insult the Jewish culture or pay tribute to people in 17th Century Poland on John's part - consciously or unconsciously. The last thing on John's mind would be to do anything that would offend the Jewish community."

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Rosenberg clarified that the outfit comprised a Stephen Jones hat, Yohji Yamamoto trousers, Brooks Brothers shirt and Dolce & Gabbana vest - "in other words - fashionable". She also outlined Galliano's arduous efforts to learn about Judaism, following his anti-Semitic comments made in a Paris café that led to his Dior dismissal in March 2011.

"He has worked very hard these last two years with leaders of the Jewish community around the world, immersed himself in literature from Primo Levi to Elie Wiesel and has educated himself about the Holocaust," added Rosenberg. "He is sorrowful and sincere in his efforts. Some people may never forgive him for his remarks two years ago and he understands that. But he will continue to work toward that goal and show by his actions his serious and heartfelt commitment and respect for the Jewish community."

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National director of the Anti-Defamation League - an organisation that fights against anti-Semitism along other forms of bigotry - Abraham H Foxman maintains that the speculation "is a ridiculous, absurd distortion".

"Anyone familiar with the dress of traditional Orthodox Jews should not mistake what Galliano is wearing in the photograph as Hasidic garb," Foxman wrote in a statement posted on the ADL website. "Hasidim do not wear fedora hats, pinstripe pants, blue jackets or an ascot tie. This is John Galliano being John Galliano. His dress is always eccentric and his hair is always worn long. This is, at the very least, ignorance on the part of the reporters and editors at the Post, or, at worst, a deliberate, malicious distortion in an effort to sell newspapers."